Whether you just had an injury to your hip, had a hip bone fracture weeks ago, or are experiencing persistent pain in the hip, your healthcare provider will likely recommend you to get an X-ray done. A pelvis X-ray is a common procedure used by doctors to diagnose a patient and monitor their progress. It is a safe procedure that has almost no side effects and is painless.
What is a pelvis X-ray?
A pelvis X-ray is an imaging test that uses radiation to take a picture of the pelvis where the legs attach to the hip joints. Using the X-ray equipment, a lab technician sends a beam of radiation through the pelvis, which is absorbed by the bones in the region (the bones appear white in the image), and the surrounding soft tissue lets the radiation pass through (these tissues appear greyish in colour). The technician takes a picture of the pelvic region, which is a black-and-white picture that contains the pelvic bones, hip joints, parts of the spine, and parts of the femur (thigh bone).
Usually, a pelvic bone X-ray includes two types of images—one in an anteroposterior view or AP (from the front) and the other in a lateral view (from the side). Even if only one hip is injured or causing problems, both hips are imaged for comparison. A pelvis X-ray helps a doctor in diagnosing various health conditions, in monitoring the progress of the patient, and in the pre-operative planning.
When do you need a pelvis X-ray?
A pelvis X-ray is useful in finding the cause of symptoms that are troubling the patient. The doctor may recommend a visit to the pelvic radiography centre, where the X-ray test is conducted if the patient experiences pain, swelling, or deformity in the pelvic region.
A pelvis X-ray can help the doctor diagnose broken bones or fractures in the pelvic region, dislocation of the hip joint, inflammation, arthritis, bone cysts (fluid-filled sacs), and bone cancer. The doctor may also recommend follow-up X-rays during or after the recovery period to monitor the patient’s progress.
Preparing for a pelvis X-ray
The patient is required to remove any metal objects, including jewellery, clothing with metallic chains or hooks, rings, and belts, as they can interfere with getting clear X-rays. It is better not to wear anything that might interfere with the imaging. The technician may also ask the patient to change into a hospital gown to ensure clear imaging.
Before going in for the procedure, it is important for the patient to understand the procedure and know about the associated risks and probable results. The doctor/technician will likely explain the process and other related things, but patients should ask questions beforehand to clear any doubts.
Pelvis X-ray: Procedure
A radiology technician performs the pelvis X-ray at the hospital or diagnostic centre. They guide the patient to a table or position them in front of a wall to take the images. The technician may give the patient a lead apron to wear that will act as a shield and protect the rest of the patient’s body from radiation exposure. The total procedure may take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes.
During the process of imaging, the patient is required to remain very still; this ensures clear pictures. Depending on the type of injury or problem, the technician may also re-adjust the patient to take more images.
What happens after the X-ray?
The radiology technician will share the results shortly after the X-ray image is taken. Depending on the hospital/diagnostic centre and the severity of the patient’s health condition, the results may be shared immediately or after a day or two. Some radiography centres also have a technician analyse the X-ray and attach notes to the results or share them with the concerned doctor.
During the subsequent visit to the doctor’s clinic, the patient could be given the diagnosis or recommended additional tests to further probe the case. After finding the underlying cause of the symptoms, the doctor can prescribe a suitable care plan that may include medication, physiotherapy, lifestyle changes, dietary restrictions, and/or surgery.
How much does a pelvis X-ray cost?
A pelvis X-ray exam can cost anywhere from INR 190 to 1000. This depends on the type of diagnostic centre or hospital chosen in addition to the location. An insurance provider may also cover the cost of a pelvis X-ray, depending on the type of coverage the patient has. Besides, one can go to the government hospitals for the test as it costs little to nothing; however, the process is very long and tedious in government hospitals.
What are the risks associated with a pelvic bone X-ray?
Pelvis X-ray is a routine procedure, which is painless and takes only a few minutes to complete. There is no special care that one has to undergo after an X-ray. All X-rays are performed by pointing a small amount of radiation through the body that does not cause any side effects. However, the radiation can affect the foetus inside a pregnant woman and cause congenital defects or other disorders. Thus, all pregnant women or women who are planning to conceive are advised to have an MRI scan instead of an X-ray.
If you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, it is important to inform your doctor and the lab technician about it to avoid any future complications. Additionally, children can be at a risk of side effects from an X-ray, and lower amounts of radiation should be used on them.
The small amount of radiation used in the process of taking an X-ray image has a very small risk of cancer, but the benefits of correct diagnosis outweigh any risk of exposure.
